The bronchiolitis epidemic is once again making an early start this season, already present in 3 regions: Ile de France, Martinique and Guadeloupe.
- The bronchiolitis epidemic is gaining ground in France. Île-de-France, Guadeloupe and Martinique have entered the epidemic phase.
- An increase in bronchiolitis is observed for SOS Médecins medical procedures, for visits to the emergency room as well as for hospitalizations.
- Santé Publique France warns that viruses other than RSV – likely to induce bronchiolitis – are also circulating.
In his weekly report on acute respiratory infections published on October 11, 2023, Public Health France reveals that Île-de-France, Guadeloupe and Martinique entered the epidemic phase in the week of October 2 to 8, 2023.
Bronchiolitis: the epidemic continues to grow
If the regions ofIle-de-France, Guadeloupe and Martinique have been placed in the bronchiolitis epidemic phase due to the rise of the virus, they are not the only ones to have recorded increases. Occitanie has moved into the pre-epidemic phase, bringing the number of metropolitan regions with this status to five. In the overseas departments and regions, Guyana is in the pre-epidemic phase.
In detail, among the 6,411 SOS doctors medical procedures carried out for children under 2 years old during this period in France, 334 (5%) were linked to bronchiolitis.
“The increase in activity linked to bronchiolitis observed in France continues for all syndromic surveillance indicators: for SOS Médecins medical procedures, for visits to the emergency room as well as for hospitalizations after visits to the emergency room for bronchiolitis”specifies the Public Health France report.
“Other viruses likely to induce bronchiolitis are circulating”
Hospitals, too, are treating more and more children for bronchiolitis. 1,653 passages in the emergency room of patients under 2 years old with this infection have summer recordedor 7.9% of passages (vs. 6.9% the previous week). Among these young patients, 12 were treated by the intensive care units. An increase in hospitalizations in intensive care units is thus observed for bronchiolitis 9% compared to the previous week.
“The increases are comparable to those observed in the two years prior to the same period, reflecting an early start again in activity linked to bronchiolitis”indicates the Public Health France report.
If the detection rate of VRS (respiratory syncytial virus) in the samples naso-throat infections in hospital remained low, an increase was observed, warns Santé Publique France. “In addition, other viruses likely to induce bronchiolitis are currently circulating, and in particular rhinoviruses”warns the organization.
